Today we’d like to introduce you to Katie Christensen.
Hi Katie, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
The Peters Memorial Fund was established in 2019 to honor the lives of Tessica and Sawyer Peters.
Tessica was many things to many people—a devoted wife, loving mother, cherished daughter and sister, dedicated teacher, and loyal friend. Sawyer, the beloved son of Tessica and Mitch Peters, was known for his infectious giggle and joyful spirit that brought smiles to everyone he met.
At just eight months old, Sawyer was diagnosed with a rare genetic disorder. In May of 2018, Tessica received her own devastating diagnosis: Inflammatory Breast Cancer. After courageous and unwavering battles, Sawyer passed away on March 5, 2019, at the age of three. Just 20 days later, on March 25, 2019, Tessica joined him, losing her fight with breast cancer at only 36 years old.
Though their time with us was far too short, the love they shared continues to shape and inspire our community.
Throughout unimaginable obstacles, Tessica and Mitch remained examples of hope, gratitude, and selflessness. They showed us what it truly means to love deeply and give generously. As their friends, we knew the best way to honor Tessica and Sawyer was to carry that spirit forward—by living lives rooted in compassion and service.
Shortly after their passing, a group of friends came together, not ready to let go and determined to keep Tessica and Sawyer’s memory alive. Through heartfelt conversations and shared purpose, the Peters Memorial Fund was born.
Today, the Peters Memorial Fund is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Lake City, Minnesota. What began as a small effort to support local students—helping with snacks and warm winter clothing, simple acts Tessica always made time for—has grown into something far greater than we ever imagined. The Fund now provides assistance for band instrument rentals, driver’s training, Community Education classes, prom expenses, pediatric dental care, Babyland memorials, and so much more.
We are also proud to partner with the Child Life Program at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, as well as Emergency Departments in Lake City and Red Wing. Each year on Sawyer’s birthday, we deliver care packages to families facing extended hospital stays. We also sponsor monthly activities such as pajama parties, movie nights, and canvas painting, bringing moments of joy during difficult times. In addition, we regularly donate to Mayo Clinic’s “gift closet,” which allows families to select toys, activities, and gifts for children and siblings celebrating birthdays or holidays while hospitalized. These small comforts can mean everything, and we are honored to help provide them.
In recent years, our greatest growth has been in community outreach. Thanks to our donors and volunteers, hundreds of Lake City residents recovering from surgery, coping with injury, or grieving the loss of a loved one receive care packages when they need support the most. We strive to show up in life’s hardest moments—when community matters most.
Other notable contributions this year include helping cover the cost of city pool passes, fully funding student activity passes for every child in the Lake City School District, and donating ice skates, skate helpers, and helmets to the town skating rink—making these shared spaces more accessible to all. Each gift helps remove financial barriers for local families.
The funds to support our efforts come from various sources. We raise money throughout the year, with our most prominent fundraiser being the annual golf tournament held on the second Friday of July at the Jewel Golf Club. Another major contributor is the sale of our ‘Spread Love’ apparel. The idea for this line was inspired by Tessica and Sawyer, with one of our team members creating the concept and testing it on a shirt. The design was such a hit that we began offering it to the public. What started as a small Facebook sale quickly gained momentum, and now we host several large online sales each year. We are also grateful for the opportunity to sell the shirts at Lake City Pearl Button Co. All of these efforts are led by a dedicated team of seven volunteers.
What began as a small community initiative has grown into one of Lake City’s most active and far-reaching nonprofit organizations—rooted in love, remembrance, and giving back.
To learn more, visit PetersMemorialFund.org or email [email protected]. Financial contributions are always welcome and may be mailed to:
Peters Memorial Fund
957 Hidden Meadow Lane
Lake City, MN 55041
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
We’ve been fortunate in that we have had very few obstacles. The biggest hurdle was back when we started-trying to get people to understand our mission. Now they see what we’re doing and they can’t wait to be a part of it!
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Our organization is made up of 7 volunteers. All of our time is donated.
What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
Everything we do comes back to spreading love throughout our community. People not only see this, but feel it. The community has been so supportive and encouraging of our mission.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Petersmemorialfund.org
- Facebook: Peters Memorial Fund on Facebook
- Other: [email protected]
